How to Sleep Like an Olympian

Becoming an Olympic-caliber athlete takes a calculated approach to training and recovery. And sleep is one of the most important parts of that equation. But don’t take our word for it. We spoke to a handful of decorated Olympians to find out how they used sleep to boost their performance.

Optimizing rest, we discovered, requires the usual dose of dedication and sacrifice that defines all top-tier athletes, and comes with its fair share of obstacles (constantly acclimating to new time zones, expecting to be on your A-game as soon as you wake up). But it’s essential to staying in peak mental and physical shape. And without learning how to harness sleep, they never would’ve made their trips to the podium.